Crockett County, Texas

Crockett County
Crockett County
County
	The Crockett County Courthouse in Ozona
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 30°44′N 101°25′W / 30.73°N 101.41°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1891
Named for	Davy Crockett
Seat	Ozona
Largest community	Ozona
Area
• Total	2,807 sq mi (7,270 km2)
• Land	2,807 sq mi (7,270 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) 0.0%
Population (2020)
• Total	3,098
• Density	1.1/sq mi (0.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	23rd
Website	www.co.crockett.tx.us

Crockett County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,098.^[1]^[2] The county seat is Ozona.^[3] The county was founded in 1875 and later organized in 1891.^[4] It is named in honor of Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

History

Prehistoric people lived in Gobbler Shelter, located on a small tributary canyon of Live Oak Creek. Earliest known Native American tribes are Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche.^[5]
1590 Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa^[6] leads a mining expedition of 170 who pass through the western section of Crockett County to reach the Pecos River.
1684, May 22 - Juan Domínguez de Mendoza and his expedition cross the Pecos River and camp at San Pantaleón.^[7]
1849 John Coffee Hays expedition charting waterholes for transporting people and freight.^[8]
1852 U. S. Army Colonel Joseph K. Mansfield recommends establishing a new post on Live Oak Creek to protect travelers.^[5]
1855, August 20, Fort Lancaster is established in response to Mansfield's recommendation.^[9]
1866 The Texas legislature provides three battalions of Texas Rangers to protect settlers in the area.^[10]
1868 Camp Melvin established.^[11]
1875, January 12 - Crockett County, named for Davy Crockett, is formed from Bexar County.^[5]
1880s Sheep and cattle ranchers establish themselves in the county. Kirkpatrick Hotel built to serve stagecoach passengers and cowboys.^[5]
1885 W. P. Hoover becomes one of the first settlers, on the Pecos River. Crockett County becomes a subsidiary of Val Verde County.^[5]
1887 Crockett County is further reduced as Sutton and Schleicher counties are formed from it.^[5]
1889 Emerald becomes first town in Crockett County.^[5]
1891 Crockett County is organized. Ozona becomes the county seat. The first water well is drilled at the First Baptist Church in Ozona.^[5]
1900 Stagecoach service begins in Crockett County. County reports seven manufacturing firms.^[5]
1902 Crockett County Courthouse built, Empire style, architect Oscar Ruffini. The building does multiple duty for courtroom and county offices, as well as a community center and dance hall.^[12]
1925 First producing oil well within the World oil field, on L. P. Powell's ranch in north central Crockett County, by Chester R. Bunker's World Oil Company.^[5]^[13]
1938 Ozona erects a statue of Davy Crockett in the town square.^[14]
1939 Ozona opens the Crockett County Museum. In 1958, it was moved to its current location on the town square.^[15]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,807 square miles (7,270 km²), virtually all of which is land.^[16]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Upton County (north)
Reagan County (north)
Irion County (northeast)
Schleicher County (east)
Sutton County (east)
Val Verde County (south)
Terrell County (south)
Pecos County (west)
Crane County (northwest)

Crockett County is among the few counties in the United States to border as many as nine counties.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	127	—
1890	194	52.8%
1900	1,591	720.1%
1910	1,296	−18.5%
1920	1,500	15.7%
1930	2,590	72.7%
1940	2,809	8.5%
1950	3,981	41.7%
1960	4,209	5.7%
1970	3,885	−7.7%
1980	4,608	18.6%
1990	4,078	−11.5%
2000	4,099	0.5%
2010	3,719	−9.3%
2020	3,098	−16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[17] 1850–2010^[18] 2010^[19] 2020^[20]

**Crockett County, Texas - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[19]	Pop 2020^[20]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,312	1,080	35.28%	34.86%
Black or African American alone (NH)	13	18	0.35%	0.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	8	9	0.22%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	11	10	0.30%	0.32%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	4	9	0.11%	0.29%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	19	52	0.51%	1.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,352	1,920	63.24%	61.98%
Total	3,719	3,098	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the census^[21] of 2000, there were 4,099 people, 1,524 households, and 1,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.46 people per square mile (0.56 people/km²). There were 2,049 housing units at an average density of 0.73 per square mile (0.28/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.34% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.71% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 54.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,524 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $34,653. Males had a median income of $29,925 versus $14,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,414. About 14.90% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Census-designated place

Ozona (county seat)

Ghost town

Emerald

Politics

United States presidential election results for Crockett County, Texas^[22]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,220	77.51%	344	21.86%	10	0.64%
2016	980	70.25%	372	26.67%	43	3.08%
2012	957	65.68%	480	32.94%	20	1.37%
2008	1,026	66.41%	512	33.14%	7	0.45%
2004	1,248	72.22%	473	27.37%	7	0.41%
2000	924	66.09%	467	33.40%	7	0.50%
1996	714	45.98%	684	44.04%	155	9.98%
1992	623	37.87%	653	39.70%	369	22.43%
1988	932	51.24%	881	48.43%	6	0.33%
1984	1,094	64.96%	589	34.98%	1	0.06%
1980	885	59.24%	595	39.83%	14	0.94%
1976	802	49.88%	804	50.00%	2	0.12%
1972	851	72.12%	329	27.88%	0	0.00%
1968	509	37.45%	571	42.02%	279	20.53%
1964	409	33.77%	799	65.98%	3	0.25%
1960	635	54.93%	517	44.72%	4	0.35%
1956	702	69.57%	305	30.23%	2	0.20%
1952	654	68.13%	306	31.88%	0	0.00%
1948	127	23.30%	400	73.39%	18	3.30%
1944	112	22.76%	323	65.65%	57	11.59%
1940	132	23.91%	420	76.09%	0	0.00%
1936	75	24.35%	231	75.00%	2	0.65%
1932	168	33.80%	329	66.20%	0	0.00%
1928	291	81.97%	64	18.03%	0	0.00%
1924	112	61.54%	69	37.91%	1	0.55%
1920	80	46.78%	89	52.05%	2	1.17%
1916	16	18.60%	65	75.58%	5	5.81%
1912	5	8.06%	53	85.48%	4	6.45%

References

^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
^ "Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Smith, Julia Cauble. "Crockett County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ Chipman, Donald E. "Gaspar Castaño de Sosa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ Weddle, Robert S. "Juan Domínguez de Mendoza". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ Crockett County Historical Society (1976). A History of Crockett County (Texas). Anchor Publishing. p. 22.
^ Parent, Laurence (1997). Official Guide to Texas State Parks. University of Texas Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-292-76575-7.
^ Blackburn Jr, Edward A (2005). Wanted: Historic County Jails of Texas. TAMU Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-1-58544-308-6.
^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Melvin". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ "Crockett County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ Olien, Diana; Olien, Roger (2002). Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 152. ISBN 0292760566.
^ "Davy Crockett Monument". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
^ Brochure, Crockett County Museum, Ozona, Texas
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
^ ^a ^b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.